Author: Scorefoundation

Saba Rizvi comes from a conservative family in Lucknow, UP. Neither Saba, nor anyone in her family knew about the facilities and the opportunities available for the blind to study, so she never went to school and had always thought that blind people like her could only be home-bound throughout their lives. Then after 34 years, she almost instantly got addicted to the then new radio show Eyeway – Yeh Hai Roshni Ka Karawan (Caravan of Light). Listening to the show each week, she found herself aspiring to accomplish things in her life just like the inspiring lives of blind people interviewed on the radio, including Sudha Patel, the first blind lady sarpanch (elected head) of her village, and Nafisa Buhariwalla, a banker. Recently, Saba learned to read Braille and has been enrolled for home study. She is now getting ready to appear for class 10 exams.

Anjina Bhat of Noida in UP is mother to Arush, a 3-year-old boy who is nearly blind because of retinal degeneration. Anjina has considered Score Foundation a valuable knowledge and motivational resource in bringing up her son. The parenting section of the Eyeway Website www.eyeway.org for instance, provides her information in developing Arush’s skills to become independent. Score Foundation significantly facilitated Arush’s inclusion in a mainstream playschool by suggesting multi-sensory activities which both Arush and the other children enjoy. Score continued to help Anjina by getting Arush admitted to the Delhi Public School where he continues to get mainstream education today.

Mayank Sharma started to lose his eyesight when he was in class 3 in a regular school in Delhi. Mayank’s teachers were not experienced at handling students with disability and advised his parents to transfer their son to a school for the blind. Despondent over the school’s approach to their son’s situation, the Sharmas approached George Abraham, the CEO of Score Foundation, for guidance on how to handle their son’s lose of sight. George not only provided them with guidance but approached Mayank’s school as well. He helped make the administration and teachers aware about blindness, notably in providing inclusive education to vision impaired students.

Amit Patel knew compensating facilities are available for blind students like to give him an equal footing with other students. His university allowed a scribe to write his MBA exams, but not extra time to take the exam. Then he sought the help of Eyeway. Eyeway helped Amit to acquire a copy of the rules for MBA courses, which was the basis of Amit’s request for compensating facilities. In addition to the information given to Amit, Eyeway also connected him with the Office of the Chief Commissioner of People with Disabilities (CCPD) and his university for a discussion about the matter. After his university was enlightened, Amit was granted his request both for a scribe and extra time in his examinations.

Gautom Baruah of Guwahati, Assam, is an enterprising young man despite his blindness. Gautom runs his own shop selling cellphone connections, recharge coupons, and other basic telecom gadgets. He had always wanted to do easy recharging independently for his clients, not relying on other people for an otherwise easy task. Gautom heard about the talking software for cell phones which he needed on the Eyeway Radio Show. Today Gautom tops up his clients’ cellphones independently, causing amazement at how a blind person can be a regular entrepreneur and contribute to the normal workings of society.

Alpana Dubey had always been optimistic about life and had strong resolve to face challenges in reaching her ambitions. When Alpana lost her eyesight as the result of a complication of Menengitic Hydrocephalus, her strength of character and the support of family and friends meant it did not disrupt her optimism to reach her dreams. Eyeway gives her a rich knowledge resource and the motivation to lead a full life. Eyeway counselled Alpana when her usual confidence waned as she chose her course of study. Today, as Alpana is confidently pursuing commerce, she has also been connected by Eyeway to an e-group of blind people who are in the same profession as her.

S.P. Singh was a young family man, earning a decent living as a teacher until he started to lose his sight because of a severe retinal problem. Gradually becoming blind was the lowest point of his life. Then one day he heard an inspiring radio show on living with blindness, Eyeway – Ye Hai Roshni Ka Karwan, and suddenly his perspective on blindness started to shift. After that he called the Eyeway Helpdesk for more information to help him adjust to his vision impairment. Recently, he has learned to use talking computer software for blind people, which he finds useful in his teaching and pursuing higher studies. Because of this information and the constant motivation, S.P. Singh considers Eyeway an important lifeline.

Avdhesh Kumar Kaushal has 6/36 vision. He appreciates Eyeway for guiding him as he continues to adjust to his eye condition, with the myriad of information and advice he has recieved. When he started to lose his eyesight, he feared that he would also lose his teaching job in a central government school. Eyeway gave Avdhesh confidence by telling him about the job security to blind people as stated in the People with Disabilities (PWD) Act, and specific concessions and other policies. He also found valuable support through connections with other blind teachers in his school and other schools in other parts of India.

Harshit Agarwal of Jabalpur, MP, has low vision due to Ocular Albinism. He asked his university for extra time to write his 3rd year BCom examination by himself. However, the university did not allow him extra time, apparently because there is no central circular issued to universities to implement such provisions for visually impaired students. Harshit referred his problem to the Eyeway Helpdesk, and right away we connected him to an NGO in Bhopal. The NGO in turn contacted the Chancellor of the university. Finally, the College allowed Harshit to have extra time in his exams.